I know that the Catholic Church forbids suicide, but is it a sin to give up on the will to live?

Answer by Judie Brown on 4/30/2013:

Dear Anonymous

That is described by the Curch as being overcome by a spirit of despair.

The Catechism says this:

The first commandment is also concerned with sins against hope, namely, despair
and presumption:

By despair, man ceases to hope for his personal salvation from God, for help in
attaining it or for the forgiveness of his sins. Despair is contrary to God's
goodness, to his justice - for the Lord is faithful to his promises - and to his
mercy.

When we feel like giving up it is then that we should turn to Christ and seek His
face.

The Catechism teaches http://www.scborromeo.org: "In their religious behavior,
however, men also display the limits and errors that disfigure the image of God in
them:

"Very often, deceived by the Evil One, men have become vain in their reasonings,
and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and served the creature rather than
the Creator. Or else, living and dying in this world without God, they are exposed
to ultimate despair."

In other words, when tempted to give up by the devil, we must hasten to God and
ask for His help.